The Ultimate Christmas Advent Calendar Roundup 2017
I know, I know it seems a bit silly to be talking about advent calendars one month out, but gone are the days of chocolate calendars and those pretty little paper ones where you got a different picture every day (though I’ll still never say no to either!) So many of the most exciting advent calendars out there are already on sale, or have waiting lists, or you need to jump on as they sell out really really quickly, so I thought this year I would put together a round up of some of the best foodie, beauty, and general lifestyle calendars out there.
Yes I am that person who has an advent calendar for whichever location I’m going to be at, so this year I’ve gone for two Cadbury’s numbers: the Cadbury’s Heroes Calendar (let us pray for maximum Twisted representation within, obviously the best Hero out there) and a Classic Cadbury’s Advent Calendar one with chocolate shapes, because you can never get enough (Cadbury’s) chocolate on December mornings!
Food & Drink
Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar | Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar For Two | Hotel Chocolat Caramel Chocolate Advent Calendar
Debenhams Pink Champagne Truffle Advent Calendar | Swizzels Sweets Advent Calendar
Aside from classic Cadbury’s chocolate (I used to have these as a teenager as one of my friend’s Mum’s used to buy them for everyone in our year in our boarding house at school) another chocolate advent calendar I’d never say no to comes from Hotel Chocolat. They do three major calendars you need to know about: a classic advent calendar in their delicious milk, dark and caramel chocolates, a truffle calendar for two to share, something a bit fancier with a different chocolate creation every day, and a cute kids calendar.
Also, something a bit different this year if you’re a champagne truffle fiend like me Debenhams are doing a pink champagne truffle a day calendar, and for retro sweet fans Swizzels have put together a retro sweets calendar. I’m actually munching on a Drumstick lolly as I type this, so I’m totally on board. Not included in the images above but also deserving of an honourable mention this year they have a Haribo Advent Calendar!!!
Drinks by the Dram Ginvent Advent Calendar | Drinks by the Dram The Cognac Advent Calendar
Pop a Ball 12 Days of Prosecco New Year Countdown CalendarWaitrose Best of British Beer Advent Calendar | Adnams Beer Advent Calendar
Wine Down To Christmas Advent Calendar | Prosecco Advent Calendar
Are you not glad that boozy advent calendars are now a thing? Above I’ve included some of the best spirit, wine and beer selections out there (I also want to draw your attention to Virgin Wines’ calendar which I could not get a good photo for at time of publication), but my two favourites have to be the Prosecco Advent Calendar which gives you a different generous bottle of prosecco or cava every day, and the Pop a Ball calendar. This one is special – rather than counting the days to Christmas, on Boxing Day you get a special load of drinks bubbles for your prosecco every day, with extras to share around and toast on the big night. Not available online yet, but to go with your daily tipple (especially if a beer calendar is your thing) Debenhams will be selling a pork scratching calendar this year.
Makeup & Beauty
L’Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar | L’Occitane Classic Beauty Advent Calendar
Clinique 24 Days of Clinique Advent Calendar | bareMinerals Advent Calendar | Decleor Advent Calendar
I know beauty advent calendars are the big one that people get most excited for every year, and generally you have two options: single brand calendars and big ones that do different brands. On the singles side I think the best are always done by L’Occitane, but Clinique, bareMinerals and Decleor have also put together great ones this year too. On the nail polish front if I still wore the stuff I’d be all over the new Essie calendar, too.
ASOS Advent Calendar | ASOS The Grooming Advent Calendar
Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar | Amazon Beauty Advent Calendar
There are so many department store and online retailer ones out there that to be honest I thought I’d just drop a few links to the ones I think look good so you can have a browse yourself. I think ASOS are cool because they do his and hers calendars, and not included in the pictures are the Look Fantastic Calendar and the House of Fraser Calendar. If you want to get your hands on the M&S Beauty one you can input your email to get notified the moment it goes on sale here, and if you’re in store, the Fenwick one looks rather epic.
For The Family & For The Home
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar | Lego City Advent Calendar
It is a common misconception that Lego is for children, so I would like to take this moment to reclaim Lego for us grown ups with a Lego advent calendar. Here are two of my favourites here, and remember: I have watched a Cabinet Minister gleefully open his Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar every morning in his office!
Diptyque Advent Calendar | John Lewis Tealight Advent Calendar
I’m a massive scented candle addict (I currently have a vanilla one from the upcoming Tesco Christmas collection burning in my room, with Muji’s woodsmoke candle and The White Company’s Winter candle in the queue) so obviously a candle calendar would be my ideal. Diptyque consistently make the Rolls Royce of the collection every year, but John Lewis and Yankee Candle also have produced sweet ones.
Kikki K Stationery Advent Calendar
I’ve got just one more miscellaneous calendar I want to put before you before you go off and make your selection: adorable Scandi stationary brand Kikki K have come out with this elegant black and gold number which is well worth considering for people who are into that sort of thing. And look how beautiful it looks!
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